Container



March 31, 1936. R. w. wlLMER CONTAINER Filed May 9, 1955 JNVENTOR.

M. m WQ@ 0 L w. w Pw. m @M A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and refers more particularly to containers which may be used for any powdered, granulated, dry flowing or fungible substance and which are provided with means for dispensing this substance An object of the present invention is the provision of a container of simple construction pro- Vvided with a semiautomatic opening and closing device which permits the contents of the container to be removed at will.

Anothei` object is the provision of a combined container and dispensing device which can be held easily and comfortably in one hand and the entire manipulation of which requires the use of one hand only.

A further object is the provision of a container having a. form which assures the greatest possible stability of said container and which at the same time provides an easy and comfortable grip for the hand which holds the container, said container being provided with dispensing means capable of being operated by the same hand.

The above and other objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a container comprising a lower hollow body portion which is preferably tapered in shape, an upper dispensing device having an outer chamber which forms a continuation of the hollow interior of the container, and an inner chamber which is movable relatively to the outer chamber and the walls of which are provided with openings or perforations adapted to coincide with similar openings formed in the walls of said outer chamber. Suitable means are provided for main-` taining the two sets of openings out of registry with each other while the container is closed.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows in perspective a container constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through part of the container.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device constituting the inner movable chamber of the container.

the upper Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the mode of operating the dispensing device.

'I'he container illustrated in the drawing comprises a body portion IIJ having a comparatively Wide bottom II and converging side walls I2. 5 Due to the tapered construction of the body portion I0, the container is larger at the base than at the top and has a lower center of gravity which lessens the danger that it may be accidentally tipped over. Obviously, the body portions 10 of any other suitable form and shape may -be employed.

The botom II and the side walls I2 form an inner lower chamber I3 which may be fllled with any suitable powdered, granulated or fungible 15 substance, such as tooth powder.

The body portion I0 carries a separate closing and dispensing member I4 having diverging walls I5 which fit over the adjacent portions of the tapered walls I2. Obviously, the dispensing mem- 20 ber I4 and the container body III may be made of a single piece.

The dispensing member I4 comprises a curved U-shaped top and side wall I6, and side walls I1 and 40 which form a continuation of two of the 25 slanting walls I5. The walls I6, II and 40 form a chamber I8 which is in communication with the chamber I3.

When the dispensing member I4 is not used,

the container body may be closed at its upper 30 end by any suitable closure made of cork, metal, transparent cellulose or the like, which is not shown in the drawing.

The dispensing member I4 is open at one of its ends. This opening is formed by the edges I9 35 of the top wall I6 and by the adjacent edge of the wall 40.

Two diverging walls I5 of the dispensing member I4 which are situated opposite each other, are provided close to their lower edges with 40 suitable indentations 20 which are adapted to engage similar indentations 2I formed in the corresponding walls I2 of the container body Ill.

When the dispensing member I4 is placed over the container body I0, the indentations 20 of the 45 walls I5 engage the projecting portions of the similarly placed indentations 2| of the tapered walls I2. Due to this arrangement the dispensing member I4 is firmly and securely attached to the container body I0. Slight pressure of 50 the thumb and forenger against the front and rear side walls I2 of the container body I0 immediately below these indentations, will disengage them and release the dispensing member I4.

The curved portion of the U -shaped top wall 55 I6 is provided with openings 22 which are used for dispensing the contents of the body portion I0.

An inner container or member 23 is slidably and movably mounted within the chamber I3. 'I'he container 23 comprises a U-shaped top and side wall 24 which ts within the U-shaped top wall I6. The portion 25 of the U-shaped wall 24 is cut out, as illustrated in Figure 3, so that the interior 26 of the slidable member 23 is always in communication with the interior I3 of the container body I0.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, one side of the slidable member 23 is closed by the side wall 21, while its opposite side is open. The open side oi.' the slidable member 23 is flanked by the edges 23 of the wall 24 (Fig. 3).

As shown in Figure 1, when the device is assembled, the side wall 21 is located adjacent to the open edges I9 of the dispensing member I4.

Due to this arrangement, the slidable member 23 forms a suitable `closure for the dispensing member I4.

The curved wall 24 of theslidable member 23 is provided with openings or perforations -29 which are similar in form to the openings 22 and which are adapted to coincide with these openings in certain positions of the slidable member 23. 1

The member 23 may slide in and out of the dispensing member I4 to the extent of the width of its openings or to a slightly greater extent measured in the direction of the movementV of the member 23. Theopenings 22 and the corresponding openings 29 are spaced apart sufciently tc provide a complete closure when the member 23 is in its extended or normal position shown in Fig. 1, thus providing an eifective closure.

The wall 24 is provided with a small lug or stop 39 which is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing and which engages an edge 3| of the adjacent tapered wall I5, thereby preventing the member 23 from vsliding beyond the position shown in `Figure 1 and from falling out of the dispensing member I4. l

The sliding movements of the member 23 may be caused by a fiat spring 32 which is adapted to maintain the sliding member 23 in the closed position shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 4, the spring 32 is preferably bent in the form of a bow and comprises an end portion 33 which ts into a groove or recess 34 provided at .the edge formed between the side wall 21 and the side'wall 35 of the sliding member 23.

The opposite end 36 of the spring 32 is situated in a groove or recess 31 formed at the edge constituted by the side wall I1 and the wall 40 of the dispensing member I4. As a further aid to the purpose of maintaining the spring in its proper position, the side walls I1 and 21 slope slightly toward the perforated portions of the dispensing member I4 and the sliding member 23. Figure 6 illustrates a mode of operating the container. As shown in that figure, the person using the container holds it in one hand andv presses with the thumb against the 'side wall 21 of the slidable member 23. Due to this pressure, the member 23 moves inwardly in a direction toward the wall i1, thereby compressing the spring 32. 1n the course of this movement, the openings 29 of thesliding member 23 come in registry with the openings 22 of the dispensing member I4. By reciprocating the member 23 within the dispensing member I4 any desired amount oi the granulated substance located with- -compressed position shown by broken lines in Figure 4 to its normal position shown by full lines in the same figure, thereby moving the openings 29 out of registry with the openings 22 and closing the container.

, Due to the bowing action of. the spring 32 in the course of its compression, a part ofthe granulated substance is pressed out of the container through the openings by the spring itself. Furthermore, when the pressure of the thumb and forenger is exerted sharply against the side walls 21 and I1, a bellows-like action takes place by meansl of which the air within the container is compressed tending to eject, through the openings, the granulated substance situated within the chamber 26.

For certain products, such as a tooth powder, the position of the sliding member 23, in relation to the container body I0, is particularly advantageous as it permits both the tooth brush and the container to be held in an easy normal position while the powder is being deposited directly on the brush.

It will be noted that some departure from the illustrated arrangement of the slide member 23 may be made without seriously affecting the ease with which the container may be utilized.

The container illustrated in the drawing is shown by way of example only and various changes, improvements and modifications mayA be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container, comprising a hollow body portion adapted to contain a substance and having comparatively wide front and rear walls which converge relatively to each other from the bottom of the body portion toward the 'top thereof, and comparatively narrow side walls interconnecting said front and rear walls, the width of said front and rear walls enabling the user to hold the top part of said body portion in the palm of one hand; a hollow dispensing member having four diverging walls fitting over the top of the-container and joining that diverging wall which lts over the top portion of the rear wall of said body portion, another shorter straight portion extending substantially parallel to and below the first-mentioned straight portion and joining that diverging Wall which iits over the top portion of the front wall of said body portion, and a curved portion interconnecting said straight portions; the interior of said hollow dispensing member being in communication with the interior'of said hollow body portion, the curved portion of the U-shaped wall of said dispensing member having an opening formed therein, said dispensing member having an open side limited by a U-shaped edge of said U-shaped wall and an adjacent edge of that diverging wall which iits over the topportion of one of the side walls of said body portion, the opposite side of said dispensing member being closed by that diverging wall which ts over the top portion of the other one of the side walls of. said body portion; a slidable member which ls situated Within the U- shaped wall of said dispensing member and which comprises a side wall closing said open side of the dispensing member, the last-mentioned side wall being adapted to be engaged by the thumb of the hand holding the top part of said body portion, said slidable member having an opening which is adapted to coincide with the opening formed in said dispensing member; and means for automatically moving said openings out of registry with each other, whereby the opening formed in said dispensing member is closed by said slidable member.

2. A container, comprising a hollow body portion adapted to contain a substance and having comparatively wide front and rear walls which converge relatively to each other from the bottom of the body portion toward the top thereof,

and comparatively narrow side walls interconnecting said front and rear walls, the width of said front and rear Walls enabling the user to hold the top part of said body portion in the palm of one hand; a hollow dispensing member having four diverging walls fitting over the top portions of the front, rear and side walls of said body portion respectively, and a U-shaped wall having a straight portion constituting the top of the container and joining that diverging wall which ts over the top portion of the rear wall of said body portion, another shorter straight portion extending substantially parallel to and below the rst-mentioned straightportion and joining that diverging wall which fits over the top portion of the front Wall of said body portion,

and a curved portion interconnecting said straight portions; the interior of said hollow dispensing member being in communication with the interior of said hollow body portion, the curved portion of the U-shaped wall of said dis'- pensing member having an opening formed therein, said dispensing member having an open side limited by a U-shaped edge oi said U-shaped wall and an adjacent edge of that diverging wall which iits over the top portion of one of the side walls of said body portion, the opposite side of said dispensing member being closed by that diverging wall which ts over the top portion of the other one of. the side walls of said body portion; a slidable member which is situated within the U-shaped wall of said dispensing member and which comprises a side wall closing said open side of the dispensing member, the lastmentioned side wall being adapted to be engaged by the thumb of the hand holding the top part of said body portion, said slidable member having an opening which'is adapted to coincide with the opening formed in said dispensing member, and a bow-shaped spring situated within said slidable member and having one end which presses against a corner formed by` two diverging walls of said dispensing member and another end which presses against a corner formed by the side wall of said slidable member and an ad- 

